Boot-tree or last



July 3l, 1928.

` 1,679,330 c. soDERLUND BOOT TREE 0R LAST Filed Feb. 17, 1927 esmas-sheet `l inonde/a July 31', 192s.

1 C. SODERLU ND BOOT TREE OR LAST 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 17, 1927 61H01 new Patented July 3l, 1928.

UNITED vsTaTii-s PATENT OFFICE.

CARL "SODERLUND, OFBELMONTfll/IKSSAGHUSETTS, 'ASSIGOR T0 HOOD `RUBBER COM- VPAN'Y, OF WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT-TREE OR LAST.

Applicationled February 1 7, 1927. `Serial-No. 168,980.

Mysaid invention relates toimprovements in boot trees orlasts of the type used ior manufacturing rubber boots 4and `the like. These are lcustomarily made of metal him/ing` 5 a separable toe piece `to facilitate removal of thelast `from the completed boot, the` leg and toeportions having abutting faces which- 15 construction in`whichnthe'toesection issecured to the leg section by a connection p erinittingjla limited s'lidingmovement relative thereto when removal is desired,` but preventing total disconnection whereby the toe section is withdrawn with the leg section.

The invention further aims to provide a connection between the parts which will permit a pivotal movement ofthe toe section relative 'to the leg section to facilitate removal. f Y

The invention further `'aims to provide simple and efficient means for holdingthe parts with their abutting faces pressed intol intimate Contact, which means `may 'be` automatically disengaged by a pull upon the leg section and as readilyengaged by reverse movement.

In order that the invention-may be fniore readily understood,reference is madeto the accompanying drawings, in which:-V

Figure l `is a side velevation of what I at present consider the preferred embodin'ient of the invention, thelower part being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the position assumed when being withdrawn `from aiboot. 1

Fig is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom `View of the last. 5 is a 'section on line 5 5 ot Fig. 1.. Referring by :reference `characters to this drawing, the numeral l designatesthe main or leg section of the tree or last and 2 the toe section, thesehaving abutting faces disposed `in intersecting `planes vindicated A and 1B, the former, 'as lis-custoinfary, being arranged substantially lengthwise of the leg portion vand the latter being substantially per )endiculfary thereto. u

' o effect a limited sliding connection lie-55 tween thev parts, 'I provide one of them, say the 'toe section 2, with a slotted guide which projects into a guide-way in the abutting 'face ofthe other part. In the embodiment shown the guide-wayfis formed bymere-"o ly providing a slot (in the face la ofthe leg section (as by cutting). y y n y The slotted guide is formed bya bar-3 of strap iron or the like spaced Vfrom the lengthwise face ofthe lastto form the slot, o5 said Vbar having its lower end rigidly se cured to` a lug @projecting from the face 2a of the toe section'at the lower end thereof. As these lasts are usually niadeof aluminum castings, which is relatively light, I 7c prefer, for purposes ofstrength, to provide a special lu'g construction vwhich comprises spaced integral projections 2C, Fig. 4 between which is secured the steel` lug block (2") lto which the lower end of the bar 3`is 75 secured by atap screw'a. Preferably the face 12a .is provided with a relatively ylow flange projection 2d (Fig. 5) which forms a tongue andgroove lit with the guide-way in the face 1i1 ofthe body ot the las't,and 50 whichV cooperates with bar 3 f to form the slotted guide.

The main portion of the bar 3 4is parallel tothe faceot the tlangeor'rib 2 and forms 4therewith the slotted guide which receives 85 aftransv-erse pin lor bar 5 carried by tlie walls of the body portion of the last"near the lower end thereof (the Vlast 'being made hollow, as shown, for lightness).

The `bar 3 has its upper portion `first in-I 90 cliiied `outwardlyT towards the back fof the last as indicated at 3b, and then forwardly in spaced relation thereto as indicated `at 3 to torni anl inclined guide-way communicatat'its lower or front end'wi-ththe slotted 95 guide-way formed by theiparallel Wall of the har 3 and rib 2C.

' Ilhebar further has an upwardly and 4forwardly `inclined end 3 `whichfforins a tongue extension `or member cooperating with a spring detent 6 lsecured tothe inner face `of the front portion ofthe 'legmember just above the intersection B in the manner hereinafter described.

The portion of the bar 3 between the parts 3C and 3d is flattened and secured to the upper face of the toe section. For purposes of strength and also to accommodate itself to the hollow formation of the last, I prefer to provide a cross bar 7 of steel or other hard metal secured to the upper face of the toe section by tap screws, the overlying port-ion of bar 3 being secured to this bar 7 by means such as a bolt or rivet.

The leg portion l is transversely recessed as shown at 1 to receive the bar 7.

The detent spring G is arranged so as to incline backwardly towards the rear of the last and has a terminal reversely inclined portion 6, providing an intervening nose (3 and the end of portion 3d is rounded to cooperate therewith.

By reason of the sliding engagement of pin 5 in the guide-way formed by the member 3 cooperating with the rib 2, the toe section may be slid lengthwise of the main section l. When shoved to the limit of its upward movement the rounded end of the part or tongue member 3d engages the inclined portion Ga'of spring G and deects the latter until said rounded end rides over the nose and lodges behind the same, as shown in Fig. l. In this position the nose holds the toe section against downward movement relative to the body of the last and also by reason of its pressure towards the rear of the last holds the vertical faces of the toe and body sections (along intersection A) pressed tight together.

When the last is to be removed from the completed boot, a pull upon the leg section causes the end of 3d to ride over the nose 6" as will be evident. Upward movement of the leg section causes the pin 5 to move upward in the guideway until it is deflected into the upper inclined portion thereof, at which time the toe section will tilt into the position shown in Fig. 2, to permit withdrawal from the boot, the toe section remaining connected with the leg section.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A boot tree or last comprising a leg section and a toe' section having faces abutting along intersecting planes which are substantially lengthwise and transverse to the body of the last respectively, the lengthwise face of the leg section having a guideway, a bar secured at its ends to the lengthwise face ofthe toe section and spaced therefrom and forming therewith a guide, said guide projecting into said guideway, a transverse pin carried by the leg section near its lower end and passing through the space between said bar and the adjacent face of the `toe section, and spring detent means interposed between the leg and toe sections adjacent the upper end of the latter for releasably holding them in abutting relation.

2. A boot tree or last comprising leg and toes sections having faces abutting along intersecting planes which are substantially lengthwise and transverse to the body of the last respectively, the lengthwise face of the leg section having a guideway, a slotted guide carried by the lengthwise face of the toe section projecting into said guideway, said guide includingabar arranged parallel to the said face of the toe section, said bar having its upper portion inclined away from the toe portion and then turned back upon itself to form an inclined guide slot extension, means securing said turned back portion to the upper part of the toe section, a transverse pin carried by the leg section near its lower end and passing through the slotted guide, and spring detent means interposed between the leg and toe sections adjacent the upper end of the latter.

3. A boot tree or last comprising leg and toe sections having faces abutting along intersecting planes which are substantially lengthwise and transverse to the body of the last respectively, the lengthwise face of the leg section having a lengthwise guideway, a slotted guide carried by the lengthwise face ofthe toe section and having a guide slot extension at its upper end inclined towards the rear of the last, a pin carried by the leg section adjacent its lower end and engaging said slotted guide, and spring detent means interposed between the leg and toe sections adjacent theupper end of the latter.

4. A boot tree or last comprising leg and toe sections having faces abutting along intersecting planes which are substantially lengthwise and 'transverse to the body of .the last respectively, the lengthwise face of the leg section having a lengthwise guideway, a slotted guide carried by the lengthwise face of the toe section and having a guide slot 'extension at its upper end inclined towards the rear of the last, a pin carried by the leg section adjacent its lower end and engaging said slotted guide, a leaf spring secured to the inside face of the leg section adjacent the transverse face and having a nose with inclined portions on each side thereof, and a tongue member carried by the toe section at the upper end thereof to cooperate with said spring.

5. A boot tree or last comprising leg and toe sections having faces abutting along intersecting planes which are substantially lengthwise and transverse to the body of the last respectively, the lengthwise face of the leg section having a guideway, a slotted guide carried by the lengthwise face of the toe section projecting into saidguideway, said guide including a bar arranged parallel to the said face of the toe section, said bar having its upper portion inclined away from lll() the toe portion and then turned back upon by the leg section adjacent its lower end and itself to form an inclined guide slot extenpassing through the slotted guide, and a sion, means securing said turned back porspring detent carried by the leg section and 10 tion to the upper part of the toe section, said engaging said tongue extension.

5 turned back portion having an integral In testimony whereof, I affix my signatongue extension inclined upwardly towards ture. the front of the last, a transverse pin carried CARL SODERLUND. 

